Qasr al-Hallabat

Coordinates: 32°5′00″N 36°21′47″E / 32.08333°N 36.36306°E / 32.08333; 36.36306
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Qasr al-Hallabat
قصر الحلابات
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+ 2

Qasr al-Hallabat (

Hammam as-Sarah east of it. The nearby modern town, named after the castle, is part of the Zarqa Governorate of north-western Jordan, north-east of the capital of Amman.[1]

History

The complex of Qasr al-Hallabat is located in Jordan's eastern desert.

Via Nova Traiana, a route that connected Damascus to Aila (modern-day Aqaba) by way of Petra and Philadelphia (modern-day Amman).[2]

In the 6th century, the fort was ceded to the

foedus treaty with the Byzantine emperor Justinian. The Ghassanids significantly altered the structure and constructed a monastery.[3]

By the 8th century, the Umayyad

caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ordered the structures to be demolished in order to redevelop this military site and its neighboring territory to become one of the grandest of all Umayyad desert complexes.[2]

Umayyad complex

Guided by the extant plan,[

cisterns and a considerably large water reservoir, and a bathhouse.[2] Furthermore, situated to the west of the palace remains an enclosed structure probably used for agricultural purposes such as cultivating olive trees and/or grapevines, of which only a one-layered stone footprint is still standing.[2]

Qasr

The main palace is built of dark and light stone, basalt and limestone, and has a square floor plan with towers at each corner.[2] Grand in stature, the principal structures were further enhanced with decorative mosaics depicting an assortment of animals, detailed frescoes and highly crafted stucco carvings.[2] The site remains to be completely restored.[dubious ][2]

Mosque

Approximately some 14 meters southeast of the palace stand the remains of the mosque.[2] Small in scale, it measures 10.70 by 11.80 meters and is constructed of layered limestone.[2] Inside, two arching riwaqs[clarification needed] divide the mosque into three sections.[2] A rounded molding extends the perimeter of the space at the height of 2.10 meters.[2] Similar to Qusayr 'Amra and Hammam as-Sarah, three barrel vaults support the roof of the structure. Encircling the mosque from the north, west, and east stood a 3.30-meter wide portico.[2]

Of the mosque, three wall sections, including the mihrab in the southern wall, remained intact from the original structure.[2] Recent reconstruction works have added back the collapsed[clarification needed] elements.[citation needed]

Gallery

  • Mosque (front view) after being largely rebuilt, Mihrab is visible in the interior back wall
    Mosque (front view) after being largely rebuilt, Mihrab is visible in the interior back wall
  • Entrance courtyard
    Entrance courtyard
  • Mosaic floor at the castle
    Mosaic floor at the castle
  • Greek inscription on basalt block in secondary use
    Greek inscription on basalt block in secondary use

Modern town

The nearby modern town of Qasr Al-Hallabat is a municipality consisting of four villages. The area is inhabited by the Bani Sakhr tribe, especially the Al-Othman family.

See also

References

  1. ^ Maplandia world gazetteer
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o ArchNet entry for Qasr al-Hallabat and Qasr as-Sarah. "Qasr al-Hallabat". ArchNet. Aga Khan Trust with MIT. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. ISSN 1094-2076
    .

External links